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Daniel J. Kruger, PhD, Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, SPH II, M2523, 109 Observatory, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, 734.936.4927, kruger@umich.edu, Lauren Shirey, MPH, Genesee County Health Department, 630 S. Saginaw St., Flint, MI 48502-1525, and Jan Brady, PhD, Department of Nursing, University of Michigan - Flint, 2180 William S. White Building, Flint, MI 48502.
In this presentation, we describe two examples where we have used Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to facilitate community based public health actions. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is promoting a Diabetes Detection Initiative that targets specific areas, including Flint, Michigan. The Greater Flint Health Coalition has responded with a Diabetes Initiative focused on the Greater Flint area, and another initiative is being proposed to cover the entire Genesee County area. These efforts have been enhanced with data analyses from the Prevention Research Center of Michigan’s (PRC/MI) Speak to your Health! Community Survey. The survey asked 1862 residents of Genesee County about their diet, physical exercise, health status, and other health related items and behaviors. We used survey data along with criteria from DHHS to calculate and geographically map diabetes risk scores, indicating the areas where diabetes intervention sites may be most needed and most effective in an effort to promote health and reduce health disparities.
We are also using GIS to facilitate a grant proposal for a community based youth violence prevention program. The proposed intervention would enable youth from the Holmes school attendance area to make a positive impact in their neighborhoods and reduce violent injuries. The proposed evaluation plan of the intervention intends to use the Longfellow school attendance area as a comparison group. Using GIS and data from the aforementioned sources, we justify the comparison using data on demographics, housing stock, and neighborhood conditions that were previously not available by school attendance area.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to
Keywords: Geographic Information Systems, Community Planning
Related Web page: www.sph.umich.edu/prc/products/survey_info.html
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.